Laxman returns for Coca-Cola Cup final
7 July 2001
Indian captain Saurav Ganguly confirmed that V V S Laxman will play in
the final of the triangular one-day series against West Indies in
Harare on Saturday while Ajit Agarkar and Harvinder Singh were the
bowlers likely to be left out of the eleven.
Laxman, who injured his left index finger while taking a catch in
India's first game against Zimbabwe, is fit and will take his position
at number three.
"I think we would more or less play the same side as on Wednesday
(against West Indies in the last league match) with only Laxman coming
in," Ganguly said.
While he did not spell it out, Harvinder Singh who played in the last
game might be the other one to be excluded having conceded 65 runs in
that match. Agarkar, who missed the previous match due to injury, is
fit but the other bowlers seem to have slightly better credentials.
Coach John Wright too stopped short of naming the final eleven but
made his preference clear when he said he would go with four
specialist bowlers "who could bowl dot balls and field well."
The exclusion of Agarkar and Harvinder would mean Ashish Nehra,
Debasish Mohanty and Zaheer Khan bagging the three berths for fast
bowlers while Harbhajan Singh would be the only spinner in the side.
"Our batting looks stronger with the return of Laxman," Ganguly said.
"Our bowlers too have done a very good job, especially in the last
game where, I thought, we did well enough to restrict them (West
Indies) to 229 for five."
When reminded that India had lost the last three finals they have
featured in, Wright said, "I am not really interested in history. All
I can say is that boys would give everything to win this match."
"I think the thing about the finals is that you got to do the basics
right, keep it simple. That way you give yourself the best chance to
win the finals.
"We played good cricket in the last four games. We have just improved
as we've got along in the fielding. As for batting, even though
(Sachin) Tendulkar has been oustanding, we generally had somebody in
the end," he said. "The players are aware it is a big game and want to
do well."
Ganguly, who has won the toss and put in the opposition to bat in all
the four matches, felt the wicket wasn't a big factor any more in the
competition. "We got a good track in the last game and this appears to
be equally good for the finals," he said.
But West Indian skipper Carl Hooper said he would still opt to field
first on winning the toss as the pitch looked to offer help to the
bowlers in the first 5-10 overs.
"It generally flattens out to be a very good batting pitch (after
that)," Hooper said. "It (the pitch) is better in the afternoon for
the batsmen so I would opt to field first if I win the toss."
Hooper felt his fast bowlers had been found lacking in doing the
containing job and needed to get their act together in the final
against quality Indian batting.
"Our quicks have gone for some runs in the first 15 overs," Hooper
said and brushed aside suggestions that he should employ more spinners
against India.
"I think it is preferred to have pacemen rather than spinners against
the Indians. It is quite a thing to say that Indians are susceptible
to spinners."
Hooper said his young batsmen have got on to a good start but failed
to convert those 50-60s. "I think as an opener if you are able to bat
for 20-30 overs, you should be able to bat till the end. It hasn't
happened but I am hopeful for the final" he said.
Hooper admitted that the injury to paceman (Cameron) Cuffy and the
banning of wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs were big blows to his side.
"Cuffy's is a real blow because he was such a good influence on the
bowling. As for Jacobs, we are lucky we have him available for the
final. It could have been lot worse."
Hooper believed the Indian side, though quite formidable, lacked some
experience. "I don't think it is the strongest Indian side I have ever
played against. They are missing Javagal Srinath and a bit of
experience in the eleven."
© PTI
Teams
|
India,
West Indies.
|
Players/Umpires
|
VVS Laxman,
Sourav Ganguly,
Ajit Agarkar,
Harvinder Singh,
Debasis Mohanty,
Sachin Tendulkar,
Carl Hooper,
Cameron Cuffy,
Javagal Srinath,
Ridley Jacobs.
|
Tours
|
West Indies in Zimbabwe
|
Tournaments
|
Coca-Cola Cup (Zimbabwe) |